CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 1 (Riznyk og, 29)  

SHAKHTAR 0  

IT’S hard to get too excited about the Champions League – particularly with the new format, which seems to have stripped away any sense of excitement from the early stages.

Large passages of this game – as with the apparently glamour tie against PSG – felt like a labour of love.

The Gunners had played in a typically functional fashion for most of the game, playing the percentages in an almost workman like performance.

But the fans at least had a tense finale to watch here as the visitors from Ukraine – emboldened by a late penalty save and Arsenal’s limp attack – almost claimed an unlikely point.

A massive save from David Raya, some strong defending from Gabriel, and a bungled header, in a frenetic  injury time spared the Gunners blushes.

In the end, Arteta’s smothering and percentages football was too much for Donetsk – currently fourth in their league.

Another clean sheet means the side is yet to concede in three Champions League matches so far.

But the truth is that the Gunners relied on a lucky own goal to win this match, and spurned an array of chances, huffing and puffing throughout without looking particularly threatening. before missing a spot-kick to kill the tie.

The own goal came after a decent strike from Martinelli – hitting the post and rebounding in off the keeper, Riznyk,

The keeper turned hero after saving the penalty down from Leo Trossard – the villain of the red card against Bournemouth – with his trailing leg.

The Gunners – if they can keep 11 men on the pitch – are clearly not going to capitulate after the shock defeat on Saturday night.

But they are not looking worryingly blunt up front.

Calafiori and Ben White went off injured and with Saliba banned there could be a very strange look to the rock solid defence.

There are reasons to be cheerful.

Martinelli looks like he’s getting a bit of menace back to his game.

And Thomas Partey played some commanding football, slotting in at right back after Ben White was subbed off for Merino at half time.

Arsenal playing with an interchanging front four of Trossard, Havertz, Jesus and Martinelli.

Declan Rice often made it a line of five attackers at times, playing way ahead of Thomas Partey in an aggressively high line.

Shakhtar benefited from the space up front and carved out two chances in the first 20 minutes, including a cleverly worked short corner that ended with a dangerous cross ball whistling low into box.

Calafiori spurned great chance to score as Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges.

Trossard fluffed a half volley after some intricate first time passing.

Rice had scuffed a long range effort.

Jesus with a rare start on the right wing in place of the injured Bukayo Saka could have put Arsenal 2-0 up just before the break, after being served up a golden chance on a plate from a calm Havertz pass.

Minutes after that miss, he worked his way into the box with a chance drew gasps from the home support on a first half that was solid, but short on flare.

He blasted a wild shot when Bukayo Saka might have placed a curler into the far corner.

Jesus looks low on confidence as we edge closer to Christmas.

The Gunners are going to have summon up a bit more zip when league leaders Liverpool roll into town on Sunday.

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, White (Merino 45), Gabriel. Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly 72), Partey, Rice, Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus (Sterling 68), Havertz.
Subs not used: Neto, Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Moniouis, Nwaneri, Robinson

Shakhtar: Riznyk, Bondar, Eguinaldo, Kryskivm Sudakov, Zubkov, Henrique, Sikan, Bondrenko, Matviyenko, Konopolis. 
Subs not used: Festian, Traore, Franjic, Stepanenko, Shved, Azarov, Tobias, Ghram, Gomes Kavin, Pedrinho, Newerlton.